Municipalities are required to develop and implement comprehensive official plans that provide for the resolution of existing sewage disposal problems, provide for the future sewage disposal needs of new land development, and provide for future sewage disposal needs of the municipality. This official plan is sometimes called the "base plan" or the "Act 537 plan." When a new land development project is proposed, municipalities are required to revise their official plan (unless the project is exempt from planning).
The Planning Forms and Information
The following forms and their supporting documentation are used in the process of revising an official plan.
The Sewage Facilities Planning Module Application Mailer is the first step in this process and must be submitted for all new land development projects, except for those projects that meet the qualifications for the use of a Component 1 planning module. The mailer information is used by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to determine whether sewage facilities planning is required, and if so, what type of planning is appropriate for a project.
The sewage facilities planning module component forms below are provided as examples of the instructions and the type of information required for the planning process. The appropriate planning module forms will be provided by DEP in response to the completed Planning Module Application Mailer. Use only the most current planning forms for your submission. If there has been a project delay since planning forms were obtained from DEP, be sure to verify the forms originally received remain the most current forms available.
In all cases, local municipal involvement is required. Do not submit completed planning module forms directly to DEP without municipal coordination.
Planning Forms
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(3800-CD-BCW0359) Sewage Facilities Planning Module Application Mailer Used by anyone proposing a new land development project.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0350) Component 1 - Exception To The Requirement To Revise The Official Plan Used by persons proposing onlot sewage disposal for smaller scale, new land development projects under specific conditions provided in the instruction form.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0352) Component 2, Individual and Community Onlot Disposal of Sewage Used by persons proposing the use of individual or community onlot sewage disposal systems, retaining tanks, or DEP permitted large volume onlot sewage disposal systems.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0352m) Component 2m, Sewage Management Program Used by local municipalities proposing a minor update revision to their existing Act 537 Official Plan for the creation of a sewage management program. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0353) Component 3, Sewage Collection and Treatment Facilities Used by persons proposing sewage treatment plants or connection, construction, expansion, or extension to public or private community sewerage systems.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0353m) Component 3m, Minor Act 537 Update Revisions Used by local municipalities and/or municipal authorities proposing minor update revisions to their existing Act 537 Official Plan. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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(3800-FM-BPNPSM0353s) Component 3s, Small Flow Treatment Facilities Used by persons proposing small flow sewage treatment facilities (individual treatment plants with flows no greater than 2,000 gallons per day) and final disposal to a stream or other method approved by DEP.
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(3850-FM-BCW0362A-C) Component 4, Planning Agency or Health Department Review Used in conjunction with other sewage facilities planning documents to obtain required comments from Local, County, and Health department agencies.
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(3850-FM-BCW0355) Transmittal Letter For Sewage Facilities Planning Used by municipal officials as a cover letter when submitting Component 2, 3 and 3s sewage facilities planning module packages to the reviewing authority (DEP or Delegated Agency).
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(3850-FM-BCW0356) Resolution For Plan Revision For New Land Development Used by municipal officials to document adoption of a Component 2, Component 3 or Component 3s Planning Module as a formal revision to the municipality's Official Act 537 Plan. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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(3850-FM-BCW0005) Task/Activity Report Used by consultants and municipal officials to submit estimates of activities, costs and times anticipated for preparation of an Act 537 Plan Update Revision for DEP review and approval.
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(3850-FM-BCW0003) Act 537 Plan Content and Environmental Assessment Checklist Used by local municipalities proposing extensive update revisions to their existing Act 537 Official Plan. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
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(3850-FM-BCW0349) Request For Planning Waiver and Non-Building Declaration Used by persons proposing subdivisions that do not involve creation of new sewage facilities.
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(012-0700-001) Implementation of the Pennsylvania State History Code: Policy and Procedures for Applicants for DEP Permits and Plan Approvals
Planning Guidance
- When commercial development, such as a data center, is proposed and sewage will be generated, sewage planning is required. There are three methods of sewage disposal typically proposed: construction of an on-lot sewage disposal system; construction of a private sewage facility; or connection to a sewerage system that leads to a centralized wastewater treatment facility. This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document was developed to generalize sewage planning for commercial new land development.
- DEP oversees the municipal implementation of the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, Act 537 of 1965 (Act 537). The purpose of this FAQ is to provide guidance regarding the implementation of Act 537 with respect to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc, et seq.
PNDI Coordination
Most sewage facilities planning proposals require coordination with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for avoidance and minimization of impacts to threatened and endangered species, and special concern species. If your project requires this coordination, DCNR's Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer will assist you with this requirement. The Conservation Explorer allows you to perform a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) Environmental Review for your project online or gives you the option to submit your project for review offline using a Manual Project Submission Form.